help. think might be getting mastitis

[marthahm]

feel sick and headachey. have been tailing off feeding for 2 weeks now as have very little milk and baby is on formula. didn't feed 6pm or 10pm last night. fed tiny bit from one side this am at 7. haven't fed since. now starting to feel really awful. breasts are a bit tender but no more than usual. not hot or swollen. can't feed the baby now as have eaten dairy and wheat products today and she is intolerant to both. should i pump? or am i just overtired after knackering day with 3 month old?

can you feel any lump

i'd pump if i were you. but am sure there will be an expert along for you soon so am just bumping for you really

Not good at diagnosis, but if you get a fever and start to feel very unwell then I would suggest you don't wait till Monday for a doc's appt but ring the out-of-hours number. So much sympathy.

I have had mastistus but my breast usually hurts first before I get flu like symptoms

If you still feel like it tomorrow I would go to gp just incase its nasty when you leave it

right one is a bit lumpy and hot and painful. starting to feel worse and worse. as if it wasn't bad enough that couldn't produce enough milk in first place. i never thought breast feeding would be this tough.

i have had mastitis and had a lump in breast, redness and very sore, also swollen nipple. i didnt get flu symptoms but was more tired. when swelling didnt go down within 24 hours of nurofen and heat etc went to docs andgot antibiotics.

dont leave it too long before seeing GP as if it is mastitis it can get nasty

should i pump both sides or just bad one?

have pumped 4oz bad side and 2 good side. am feeling worse and worse.

Take ibuprofen (anti-inflamatory) and have a hot bath. Neither of these will "cure" you but made me feel a bit better when I had mastitis.

Watch you don't pump too much as your body will react by producing more milk! Massage your sore breast, especially over any lump. A sort of combing motion with your fingers over a lump can also help clear it although I have had these symptoms with no lump obviously present.

Get to the doctor if you don't start to feel better fairly quickly.

Hope you feel better soon - it's so nasty!

Also, cold compress on your sore breast to reduce inflammation (after the bath obv..!).

I used one of those bags that you fill to make icecubes wrapped in a muslin.

Sorry - not sure if the cold compress is good advice since if you have a blockage you'll want heat to help dilate the milk ducts, but it does help cool and soothe the redness.

I think you maybe want heat before pumping and cool afterwards.

I'm being no use at all now am I - completely confusing the issue, I'll shut up!

marthahm - you could encourage the milk to flow better by actually breastfeeding instead of pumping. Is baby on special formula for intolerance? You could pump and dump today but start breastfeeding again if you want to. As you perhaps ahve more milk than you thought you had is that an option?
Definitely take regular ibuprofen which can be alternated with paracetamol. Try and empty your breasts. Savoy cabbage leaf in your bra will also help tenderness. If symptoms get worse you may need antibiotics.

thank you for all your help. an hour after pumping and massaging area last night felt a lot better. started to feel terrible today at 4pm. couldn't express earlier as lo's christening. tried to feed her myself again but it's just such a battle with her reflux it's just impossible. have just expressed and was only 2oz so hopefully it's going down and i'll feel better soon.